Smut-machine



G. H, STARBUCK AND L. D. GILMAN, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

I snuff-MACHINE.'

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,442, dated J u1y 29, 1856.

To all 'whom i may concern:

Be it known that we, G. H. STARBUGK and L. D. GILMAN, of Troy, in thecounty of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a new andImproved Smut or Grain-Cleaning Machine; and we do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of thisspecification, said drawing be ing a vertical section of ourimprovement.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct ourinvention, we will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a cylindrical case or shell which is perforated and placedo-ver a semispherical disk or basin C, which is supported by a properframing D.

E, represents a vertical shaft which passes through the center of thecase or shell the lower end of said shaft being stepped in a cross piece(a), of the framing D. The upper end of this shaft works in a bearing(c), on the top of the case or shell A, On t-he lower part of the shaftE, there is placed a circular screen F, the upper surface of which isabout flush with the top of the disk C. The diameter of the screen israther smaller than that of the basin so asto allow of a space (c),between the edge of the screen and the inner side of the disk. Upon theshaft E, and directly below the screen F, a fan G, is placed, and acircular aperture (el), is made through the bottom of the disk aroundthe shaft E, and through which aperture the shaft passes, the aperturebeing considerably larger than the shaft. To the upper part of the shaftE, a disk (c), is attached said disk having teeth or spikes (f), in itsupper surface and also in its sides andthe under surface of the topplate (g), of the casepor shell A, is furrowed or corrugated in anyproper manner. Upon the shaft E, between the screen F, and disk (e),there are placed a series of circular plates H, threev are representedin the drawing, but more or less may be' used as desired. These platesare toothed or corrugated on their upper surfaces and have circularapertures, (al), at their centers.' The edges of the plates do not touchthe inner side of the case or shell A; a space (it), being allowedbetween the edge of each plate and the shell A. -Underneath each plateH, there is placed a conical plate or funnel I, said plates beingattached to the inner side of the case or shell A. Through the top plate(g), of the case or shell there is an aperture (i), through which thegrain passes `upon the disk (e).

The operation is as follows: The shaft E, is rotated in any propermanner vand the grain passes thro-ugh the aperture (i), upon the disk(e), and is thrown or carried by centrifugal force to the edge ofsaliddisk and falls down upon the edge of the upper plate H, and passesdown the conical plate or funnel I, to the center of the middle plate H,and is carried by centrifugal force to the edge of said plate and isconveyed by the second funnel I, to the center of the lower plate H, andis carried or thrown by centrifugal force to the edge of said plate andthen conveyed by the lower funnel I, to the center of the screen F, tothe edge of which it is thrown by centrifugal force and passes outthrough the aperture (CZ), at the lower end of the disk or basin C. Theblast generated by the fan G, passes up through the apertures (al) atthe centers of the plates H, and also up around the edges of said platesand the smut and dirt cleansed from the grain is discharged through theperforated case or shell A-. The plates H, and spiked disk (e), as theyrotate thoroughly scour the smut and dirt from the grain, and the screenF, subjects the grain a requisite time to the act-ion of the blast andthe grain is distributed over the screen in a thin sheet from its centert-o periphery so that the blast can act advantageously upon it. Thisscreen may, if desirable, be made of dish shape in order to present moresurface to the blast. We do not confine ourselves" to either form. Theblack arrows show the direction of the ygrain and the red arrows Vshowthe direction of the blast.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent isf,

The combination of the screen F, plates H,4 funnels I, and disk (c),with spikes f attached when said plates are attached to the shaft E, andfitted within the case or shell A, as described for the purpose setforth.

G. H. STARBUCK. L. D. GILMAN. Witnesses:

JOHN MORAN, P. HENRY MORAN.

